Category: Safe Haven
I wish I had said this, but <shrug> I found it while perusing the blogs this evening. But, I wholeheartedly endorse the author's sentaments.
"
Why my grandma hates profanity (and why you should care)
by
Nowhere Man
It could never be said that Grandma was afraid of a word. Indeed, she chose her words in much the way a master blacksmith might select his tools, appreciating
the heft of one, the feel of another in his hand, anticipating the blow he might make with a third.
No, Grandma never shied away from speaking her mind. When she was in her early 20's, home from college on a break, she noticed that her parents had a lamp
whose cord was frayed. She started to replace it, but her mother objected: Shouldn't she wait until her father came home from work, so that he could do
the job?
Grandma's reply was priceless:
Block quote start
Oh, mother, you don't need a penis to fix a lamp cord.
Block quote end
Nor was Grandma demure when it came to sex. There's a story in the family that she had been angry with Grandpa because he wouldn't sleep with her before
they got married. I don't know if it's true; I wasn't there. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if it were.
Grandma never wanted to be a leader, but she often wound up as one. She was ever unable to be passive about anything she cared about. In the '40s and '50s,
she was a speechwriter for Progressive Party candidates; in '72, she was a delegate for McGovern at the convention in Miami. In the decade between, she
was frequently seen at peace marches with her children and grandchildren.
So I think you'd believe me if I said that there was nothing about Grandma that you could call conservative. But there was one thing: she hated profanity.
It wasn't long after I learned my first swear words that I learned never, ever to use them in front of Grandma. I can't remember how I learned that lesson,
but it stuck. Yet I wondered why she, of all people, had such a disliking for it. And finally one day I got up the nerve to ask her about it.
She said that language can be used for a lot of different things: To describe a feeling, to send a message, to persuade. Profanity didn't serve well for
any of those. Any time I used a swear word, she told me, I was putting highly-skilled, hard-working words out of work, and letting some lazy, illiterate
slob take its place. And it meant that I wasn't saying anything that she couldn't hear a hundred times a day. So what would be the point? She'd rather
I used words that she'd want to pay attention to.
OK, I said, I can see why she didn't like hearing that sort of thing. But they're just words, after all. Just particular sounds. Why would this one or the
other really be a problem? Why, for instance, is the common term for sexual intercourse such a taboo to her?
Then came another priceless reply: Can you imagine telling your worst enemy to go have a good meal? Well then, why would you want them to enjoy a different
but wonderful experience?
But, I said, trying to squirm out of this; but that's not really what folks mean when they say it like that.
Well, that's even worse then. You're debasing one of the most beautiful things the world has to offer you. You might as well slap mud on the Mona Lisa,
or burp loudly during Beethoven's Ninth. I've been working all these years to try to make a better world, and you have to befoul something so joyful?
I still let out a curse every now and then. I'm not perfect; Grandma was one of the first to see that. But I've taken a lot more care with my language since
we had that little chat."
Hmm I will admit that using the F-word to describe sex can be vulgar, but arent you confusing love making which is beautiful,with just pure every day sex. And anyone burping in the middle of Beethoven's Ode to Joy should be frog marched from the room and strung up nby their feet until their head is spinning.
I notice that you didn't describe "pure everyday sex" which can be pretty damned good at times too.
I didnt want to offend you mate, as we like the unconventional stuff, as in bondage ect..and your right it can be wonderful
I appreciate the favor.
No problem
I understand what the author says and while it may not seem like it, I certainly understand when a swar is not warranted. I don't need to use one every word I know, espically when I know someone's religious beliefs might might be offended. But I'l swear whenever, because I ust don't really think it's a big deal unless I find out like i said, say goblin was offended by the use of a term,I'd make sure to be careful.
I agree. That's why I put this topic in
I don't swear around my family because I know someone will get angry. I replace those words with "barnacles," "Tartar sauce," and "fudge ripple," (thanks to my favorite cartoon, SpongeBob Square Pants, and a dentist taking teeth impressions for retainers) lol
I had completely forgotten about this. Thanks for bringing it back up.
I love words, their use and abuse. Swearing properly is indeed a lost art. But with everyone saying fuck, which was at one time the worst thing a person could say without really getting creative, swearing has lost most of it's appeal.
Bob